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Insurers ‘abuse accident victims’

Insurers abuse their position of financial superiority over accident victims, especially when the victim has no legal representation

August 23 2012, 1:01am, The Times

Sir, I disagree with Nick Starling’s assertion (letter, Aug 21) that “insurers do not seek to deny claimants access to professional legal support but to ensure that they get the compensation they are entitled to as quickly as possible”.

I am acting for a Liverpool docker who suffered a below-the-knee amputation after an accident at work. The defendant insurers admitted they were liable to pay compensation and were asked in August last year to make an interim payment of £10,000 to fund the cost of a prosthetic limb while the parties gathered all the evidence needed to fully value the claim. They refused and offered to make a payment for half the amount only, forcing my client to apply to the court to seek an…